Help needed in how to approach GP

[Noona123]

I posted here a few days ago about my 2 sets of thyroid results and from advice/comments I decided to get a private Medichecks test as my GP said to re-test mid august but' I am feeling very ill and felt I couldn't wait that long. . Medichceks show further increase in TSH and decrease in T4 and T3 and also Hashimotos anti-bodies of 524 so it looked like it's definitely Hypothyroidsim. I don't know whether to send medichecks results to GP now hoping to get started on Levo asap. They're scheduled to do their own testing in 2 weeks so might insist on waiting for that. Any advice on what to do would be most appreciated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Noona123

Please post your Medichecks results/ranges and we can help you.

[Noona123 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Medichecks 26/07/22

TSH 8.17 (0.27 -4.2)

FT3 3.22 (3.1-6.8)

FT4 8 (12-22)

CRP hs 4.98 (0-5)

thyroglobulin AB 83 (0-115)

thyroid peroxide AB 524 (0-34)

Vit B12 active 90.3 (37.5 -150)

Vit D 56 (50-200)

I have been taking extra Vit D last few days

Iron results yet to come - but had them tested at GP in May 2022 - ferritin on low side, folate near top of range (see below)

NHS June 21 2022 results for thyroid:

TSH 5.38 (0.35 - 4.94)

FT4. 8.3 (9-19.1)

NHS May 11 2022 results for thyroid etc:

TSH. 0.07 (0.25 -4.94)

FT4 12.2 (7.5 - 21/1)

FT3. 4.3 ( 3.8 - 6.00)

Serum C reactive 5 (0-10.0)

Serum Ferritin 37 (23 - 300)

Serum Folate 14.8 (2.7 -15.00)

Vit D 60 (50-120)

B12 470 (187 -883)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Noona123]

Noona123

I would show these to your GP, obviously not a shadow of a doubt with this set of results - very over range TSH, below range FT3, close to bottom of range FT3 and very high TPO antibodies (gosh you must be feeling awful ).

I hope that your GP accepts them and starts you on Levo straight away. If he says that he can't accept private results (some wont) then point out that the lab is accredited just like NHS labs are so there shouldn't be a problem.

The fact that your TPO antibodies are raised confirm the cause of your hypothyroidism is autoimmune, patients call this Hashimoto's, doctors often call it autoimmune thyroiditis.

Hashi's is where the immune system attacks the thyroid and gradually destroys it.

Fluctuations in symptoms and test results are common with Hashi's (which is probably why your May results looked very different and your doctor mistook it for hypERthyroidism because of the low TSH).

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, although there is no guarantee.

Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.

You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily is said to help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. You already know that your ferritin needs increasing, and your Vit D too. Active B12 isn't too bad (100 plus might be better) and Folate is good.

[Noona123 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Seaside Susie

Thanks so much for your supportive email. I do indeed feel dreadful and a little worse each day 😒. I sent an message to my surgery with the results from Medichecks . An admin person wrote back:

Good Afternoon and thank you for you message - although you have seeked help from another source this will still need to be discussed with a clinician here at the Practice .

I can ask someone to call you on the 1st August to discuss

Kind regards

Karen

Not sure what to do now. I really don't want to spend another week feeling like this. I appreciate going on Levo can also cause unease at the beginning but at least I'll be going in the right direction. I did actually get an 'emergency' appointment a couple of days ago and saw a PA (physician's associate?) for my symptoms of sore glands, ear ache and sore throat. He agreed that my last 2 NHS thyroid profile looked as though I had an overactive thyroid but thought my current symptoms were a separate issue of 'silent acid reflux' and he prescribed omelaprozome . Not sure what to do now. A week feels like too long.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Noona123]

Noona123

I'm afraid I don't know what a PA is. Physician's Associate sounds more like a US term. We used to have an ANP - Advanced Nurse Practioner - at our surgery, that's the only other medical professional that I know of in primary care.

However,

He agreed that my last 2 NHS thyroid profile looked as though I had an overactive thyroid but thought my current symptoms were a separate issue of 'silent acid reflux' and he prescribed omelaprozome .

Did you mean to type "overactive" there or underactive? No way are you overactive.

I've had the "acid reflux" diagnosis thrown at me. In fact I was prescribed Omeprazole when I first started taking an inhaler for my COPD because it was giving me chest pains. I was told I had indigestion but the fact that I'd never suffered from indigestion in my life was ignored. I didn't think it was right so I never took them but what it actually was was the fact that I reacted to the propellant in the inhaler, I tried many and had the same reaction until I was eventually put on one that was breath operated and it's been fine since. The acid reflux diagnosis came from a dentist but I had my doubts.

We Hypos tend to have low stomach acid and this gives symptoms similar to high stomach acid/acid reflux and many are misdiagnosed this way and given a PPI, so if we have low stomach acid the PPI lowers it even more and makes things worse.

I appreciate going on Levo can also cause unease at the beginning but at least I'll be going in the right direction.

I wouldn't necessarily anticipate that. It's a long time since I was diagnosed (1975) but I never felt worse to start with. Can't remember what dose I started on but I certainly only improved.

Not sure what to do now. A week feels like too long.

Unfortunately if they can't offer you an appointment any sooner there's not a lot you can do other than prepare your case and be ready to fight your corner/

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[arTistapple]

Noona123 just a quickie. I am terrible with almost any drug I am given. I just seem to be hypersensitive, even with food. Can’t eat anything ‘processed’. However I had no bad effects from starting levothyroxine. I did after two weeks or so have a bit of a ‘buzz’, which I welcomed but knew to be careful. Maybe when your body gets some of what it finally needs, it sucks it up. Don’t let any concerns about starting the levo put you off. It would be nice to feel better - at any price in my book.